Variable multiple head



Sept. 3, 1940. L G. w. EMRlcK 2,213,579

VARIABLE MULTIPLE HEAD ATTORNEY VARIABLE MULTIPLE HEAD Filed Dec. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR QRsfWf/ffR/c/r Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES VARIABLE MULTIPLE HEAD George W. Emrick, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 16, 1938, Serial No. 246,132

15 Claims.

This invention relates to what are commonly termed multiple heads; that is` to say, attachment tol drill, presses and like machines for supporting and operating a plurality of tool sup- '5 porting chucks whereby a plurality of drills or taps supported in said chucks may be actuated simultaneously in performing a plurality of drilling or tapping operations in a workpiece; and

the object of the present invention is to provide a multiple head of the character described employing a plurality of chuck supportingdiscs rotatable about independent axes, wherein said independent axes are spaced circumierentially with respect to. a central driving axis, whereby substantially unlimited relative spacing of thev tool supporting chucks-one with respect to another within` a given area, deiined only by the relative ratio of rotaryadjustab-le movement of the chucks collectively, is possible, and restricted solely by 2O the closeness of adjustment of the chucks one with respect tothe other and an intermediate or driving axis; a further object being to pro-vide a multiple head attachment of the character de-- each adjustable disc and of said drive spindle so as to simplify the setting of the several chuck spindles one with respect to the other to register with proper spaced points on a predetermined L,g0`vvorkpiece; a further object being to provide means for loosening the mounting of each adjustable disc in the head and for rmly securing the disc in adjustable position so as to maintain the respective chucks in fixed relationship to each other and to the axis of the drive spindle; a still further object being to provide a casing structure which will be universally adaptable to different types of mountings in connection with vario-us types and kinds of machines there- 50Y -`by producing a multiple head which will be suitable for 'the different uses without changing or modifying the structure of the multiple head;`

a still further object being to provide means for I forming a seal around each of the adjustable discs 55` 'toretain lubrication within the gear case of the or more rotatably adjustable discs,` the axes of (Cl. lll-130) multiple head; and with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed: 5

The invention is fully disclosedy in the following speciiication, of Ywhich the accompanying drawings form a part, iny which the several parts of my invention are designated by suitable ref-` erence characters in each kof the views, and in which:

Fig. l is asectional View through a multiple head made according to my invention showing one method of mounting the same, the section being' substantially on the line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig.` 2 is a plan View of thestructure shown in Fig. l with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig; 3 is a sidegand sectional View ci the upper portion of the multiple'head shownY in Figs. 1 and 2 but illustratinga modified form ofA mounting; and

. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a further form of mounting.

The device forming the subject matter of this application constitutes an improvement on that 'j disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,998,275 issued April i6, 1935. While for'purposes of illustration I have shown in the accompanying drawings an arrangement of three rotatable chuck supporting discs, the heads may be constructed of two, three or-four rotatable disc units in the relatively small or-medium sized heads such as dis-v closed, Whereas: in larger heads, any desired multiple may be provided. In the different instances or arrangements, it is; preferred that theseveral gears will be standardized so that replacements may be readily made and further so that the gears and; other parts of one type -andkind of head structure, within one-general unit size, will be the same and interchangeable therebysimpli- Atying the cost of production of the head;

n the severaliigures; the head comprises aV top casingl part l0 and` a lower part Il, both'j parts in the arrangement shown being what might be termed clover-leaf design as is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The parts are screwed together by three screws l2 arranged intermediate each of the cylindrical and intersecting casing portions l3,'l.4 and l5, or in webs IS joining said portions. filing-intent pins Il arefalso employed' between projecting'ears I3 on the casing parts, one of which is shown. in Fig". r1 of the drawings. The pins l1 serve to accurately aline the casing parts: one upony the Tother. 'Theca's- 55 ing partl Il or each cylindrical portion thereof is split at the point furthest remote from the center of the casing as seen at i9. At each side of the split are enlarged bosses 29 in which are disposed clamp screws 2l so as to firmly clamp the cylindrical portions of the casing part li upon rotatably adjustable chuck supporting discs 22, one of which is shown in section in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In that each disc is of the same general construction, the brief description of one will apply to all., Each disc comprises a substantially inverted dish-shaped body, the upper surface 23 of which is flat and seats upon the lower surface of the casing part l0. Suitable horseshoe-shaped packings 24 are disposed between adjacent surfaces of the cylindrical portions i3, ifi and l5, the rings extending from the intersecting ends of said cylinders throughout the remainder of the cylinders and crossing the splits as at I9. The purpose of this construction is to forman oil seal between the cylinder portions of the respective casingparts lll and Il.

The downwardly directed peripheral flanges 25 ofthe discs 22 seat upon inturned flanges 26 at the lower surface of the casing part l l as clearly seen at the left of Fig. 1. The flanges 26 are circumferentially continuous except for the splits I9.

Each disc is provided with an enlarged body portion 21- which extends from the peripheral flange 25 inwardly to include the hub `portion of the disc. Arranged in this enlarged body is a double ball bearing28 in which issupported a spindle 29 with which the usual or any desired form of tool supporting chuck may be coupled on the lower Ata- `pered end 30 thereof, the chuck being omitted in that it forms no direct part of the present invention. The bearing-28 is held in position by a ring type nut 3l, whereas the spindle 29 is secured against displacement in the bearing by a pinion 32 in threaded engagement with the spindle and keyed thereto by a spring ring key pin 33, the latter extending into the spindle as will be apparent. The pinion 32 is disposed upon the upper surface of the disc 22 and is arranged in the chamber 34 in the lower surface of the casing part I0.

Each disc 22 is rotatable around a. short shaft or pin 35 having a drive flt in the casing part i9 or otherwise secured therein. `The lower end 35a lof this pin protrudes through the bottom of the enlarged portion 21 of the discto form a centering device to aid in calculating the adjustment of the several spindles 29 one with respect to the other. In this connection a centering pin 36 is also secured in the central portion of the casing part I l as seen in Fig. 1. The pin 3S is in accurate alinement with the spindle 31 of a drill press or tapping machine, only part of which is shown in the present illustration merely to illustrate its attachment with a spindle coupling sleeve 38 freely rotatable around a coupling plug 39. The latter has a tapered bore 40 for receiving the spindle 31 and a squared or other angular end 4l for keying the plug and in turn the spindle 31 to a drive gear 42 having a ball bearing mounting vas at 43 in the upper end of the casing part I9.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have also shown a mounting bracket 44, the base of which is secured to the casing part I0 by screws 45 arranged in alinement with the screws l2. The upper end portion of the bracket is split as seen at 46 to be clamped around a quill or other support for supporting the head. This provides one form of mounting, other forms of mounting beradially extending socket 41 for the usual check rod, not shown, which is secured in position by a set screw 48, this rod being conventionally used to retain the head against rotation in the ma.- chine.

'I'he gear 42 has its gear portion disposed in the chamber 34 and meshes with three similar gears 49 encircling the shafts 35 and keyed to upwardly directed sleeve portions 50 on three pinions 5|, the latter having roller or other bearings 52 upon the shafts 35, as clearlyseen at the left of Fig. 1 of the drawings. with the pinions 32. It will thus vb e seen that in the rotation of the `discs 22, to adjust the position of Ythespindles 29 one with respect to the other, the pinions 32 will travel around the pinions 5| while constantly maintaining mesh therewith. After a desiredadjustment has been attained, the screws 2l will be tightened to securely retain the discs 22 against rotary movement, and in the operation of the multiple head, all of the The pinions'5l mesh spindles 29 will be simultaneously driven at thesame speed from the gear 42 through the gears 49, pinions 5I and 32, as will be apparent. By reason of the ball and roller bearing mountings of the several rotary parts, it"will be understood `v that the spindles 29 may be rotated at high f speeds. It will also appear that relatively long bearings are provided for the spindles 29 as well as duplex gears 49, and pinions 5I.

At 53 in Fig. 1 of the drawings is shown a' screw cap controlling a lubrication admission aperture in one enlarged side 54 of the casing part I0 so that grease or other lubricants may be introduced into the chamber 34 to lubricate the gearsA as well as the several bearings, and as previouslyv .alinement of the head in the vertical movement thereof toward and from a workpiece, also to key the head tomaintain proper alinement with re" spect to workpiece supporting iixtures and the like in order to maintain accurate engagement of the tools with the workpiece as will beapparent.

It will appear that in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the casing part I9 is standardized to adaptv the same to different types of fittings for attach--` ment to different machines. That is to say, the bearing 43 seats in a socket 56 centrally of the upper portion of the casing part I ll, and this socket is common inall figures. formed in the socket portion is sufficiently large to'provide for the insertion of the gear 42 or a similar gear 42a as shown in Fig. 3. 'Ihe gear 42a differs in construction by the provision of a threaded bore 51 for receiving the threaded end 58 of a tapered spindle 59. The latter, as well ask-the upper end of the gear 42, seats in a double which is secured in position by screws 45a similar The aperture to the screws 45. Thebracket l[il has a socket 62 for the check rod retaining the head against rotation. Aside from the mounting described, the structure in Fig. 3 is the same as that shown in Figs. land 2.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings a gear 42h is employed and seats in a bearing 43 identical to the bearing 45h similar to the screws 45 and fitting in the same threaded apertures of the casing part I0.

This adapter plate is standardized to rlt the coupling of a tapping attachment such as disclosed in the prior patent hereinbefore mentioned, suitable bolts being provided to couple the plate with the standardized coupling of the tapping attachment. It will be noted on a consideration of Fig. l of the patent referred to, that the cover 36 is substantially equivalent tothe disc 66v in the present application so as to t the coupling plate 26, and the angular shank 65 is equivalent to the angular shank o-r spindle 33 ofthe patent. The head shown in Fig. 4 is otherwise the same structure as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that any other type and kind of mounting may be provided to suit the head to machines of various kinds and classes, but in all instances it will be desirable except on very special cases, to maintain the standardized construction of the head so as to economize on the cost of production thereof. In employing other multiples in the chuck spindles o-f a multiple head, it will be apparent that diierent forms of casings l0 and Il will be employed, but wherever possible, the discs 22 as well as the gears 49 and pinions 5I and 32 willl be maintained standard. However, in some instances, the size of the gear 42fmay be enlarged or decreased in size, and as above stated, this will be maintained except in special cases where other arrangements will be desirable and wherein the several parts may be modified as to respective or comparative sizes.

By providing the protruding ends 35a on the shafts 35 and thecenter pins 36, it will appear that the setting of the several spindles one with respect to the other may be more readily calculated, and this is especiallytrue when the center pin 36 is centralized upon a given workpiece. It will be understood that the closest arrangement of the spindles 29 with respect to each other would be when disposed nearest to the center pin 36, whereas the farther spacing would be when the spindles are disposed at the greatest distance from the center pin 36, or in other words, when adjacent and in alinement with the splits I9 in the casing Il. However, any irregular adjustment of the spindles may be provided so that substantially any location of these three spindles may be provided within a diameter fixed by the outermost adjustment of the spindles with respect to the axis 36, and the closest spacing governed by the adjustment of said spindles nearest to the axis 36. In the illustration in Fig. 2 of the drawings, one of the spindles, that disposed in the cylinder I3, is arranged in its closest adjust,

ment with respect to the axis 36, whereas the spindle in the cylinder I4 is shown on substantially a half-way adjustment at the side of the cylinder nearest the cylinder l5, whereas in the cylinder l 5, the spindle is shown nearer the limit of its outward adjustment. In connection with the foregoing, it will of course be apparent that ,the spindles may be relatively adjustable one with respect to the other apart from any particular xed center of the workpiece. This is especially true in drilling and tapping workpieces of irregular or unbalanced contour.

It will appear from a consideration of the present disclosure that each of the spindles are driven at the same speed.V It will'be understood, however, that in some instances, gearing may be employed which will operate the spindles at different speeds particularly when diierent taps are Cil.

arranged in a single multiple head andsimultaneously operated or in operating with different drills or reamers.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A multiple head of the class described comeach member and movable into different posi-A tions around the axis of the member in which the spindle is supported in the' adjustment of said member, a driving gear supported in the casing, means for placing said gear in operative engagement with a driving means, andmeans including gears meshing with the driving gear for placing the rotatable spindle of each member in operative engagement with said driving gear whereby all of the spindles will be simultaneously rotated in the operation of said driving gear.

2. vA multiple head of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality ofl members rotatably adjusted about fixed axes in said casing, a

spindle freely rotatable in each member and movable into different positions around the axis of the member in which the spindle is supported in the adjustment of said member, a driving gear supported in the casing, means for placing said gear' in operative engagement with a driving means, means` comprising gears, meshing with sociated spindle.

3. A multiple heady of the class described cornprising a casing, a plurality of members rotatably adjustedk about xed axes in said casing, a spindle freely rotatable in each member and movable into different positions around the axis of the member in which the spindle is supported in the adjustment of said member, a, driving gear supported in the casing, means for placing said gear in operative engagement with a driving means, means comprising gears meshing with the driving gear for placing the rotatableV spindle of each member in operative engagement with said driving gear whereby all of the spindles will be simultaneously rotated in the operation of said driving gear, said gears consisting of a combination large and small gear unit freely rotatable upon each axis`of said members, a pinion keyed to each spindle with one gear of each unit meshing with the driving gear and the other gear of each unit meshing with the aspindle freely rotatable in eaclimember and movable into different positions around the axis `of the member in which thespindle is supported inthe adjustment of said member, a driving gear supported in the casing, means for placin'gsaidy gear in operative engagement with a driving means, means comprising gears mesh- 'ing with the driving gear for placing the rotatable' spindle of each member in operative engagement with said driving gear whereby al1 of the spindles will be simultanedusly rotated in" the operation of said driving gear, said gears con- --sisting of a combination large and small gear I unit freely rotatable upon each axis of said mem;

bers, a Apinion keyed Yto each spindle With one.

gear of each unit meshing with the driving gear andthe other gear of each unit meshing with the pinion on the associated spindle, said casing being composed ofv a gear housing part and a part supporting said members, means for coupling and keying said parts, means retaining eachmember in the second named casing part against movement in diiTere-nt positionsof adjustment thereof,v and means forming a seal between vadjacent casing parts, whereby the first casing part may be packed with a lubricant.

5. Amultiple head of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of members independently and rotatably adjusted about fixed axes in said casing, a spindle freely rotatable in each member and movable into different positions around the axis of the member in which the spindle issupported in the adjustment of ysaid member, a driving gear supported in the casing, means for placing said gear in operative engagement with a driving means, means including gears meshing with the driving gear for placing the rotatable spindle of each member in operative engagement with said driving gear whereby all of the spindles will be simultaneously rotated in the operation of said driwng gear', and the casing structure being standardized to adapt the same for attachment to various supporting and mounting devices used in coupling the head with a suitable machine.

6. A multiple head of the class described comprisinga casing, a plurality of discs rotatably adjustable in the casing around xed shafts, ysaiddiscs having surfaces exposed through one end of the casing, a tool supporting spindle freelyrotatable in each disc and protruding through said open end of vthe casing, a pinion fixed to each spindle within said casing, a double gear `unit freely rotatable upon each of said shafts, one'of the gears of each unit meshing with the pinion on the spindle adjacent said unit, a drive gear centrally of the casing and opening through the other end thereoffor attachment to a drive Open end of the Casina .al masseria@ ting, Qf

ausg-5.79.

spindlewithin said casing, a-idouble ,gear'uni-t" freely rotatableupon each of said shafts, one' of' thegears of `eachiunit meshing. with the pinion; on the spindle adjacent saidunit, a drive vgear centrally of thecasing and ,opening throughthe other end thereof for attachment to a drivey shaft, said last named gear meshing with the other gear of all of saidunits, wherebyall of said. spindles -are simultaneouslyv rotated inthe 3 rotation of said drive gear, said shafts projecta4 ing through the open end of the casing, and'agv center` pin arrangedk in alinementwith .tha-axisA of the drive gear and protruding through tha, open end of the casing to provide in conjunc-t. tion'with said protruding shaft ends and theprotruding spindles, means for gaging the `set;l saiduspindles'lfone with vrespect to *the l other? L f 3.` A multiple headof the 'classfdescribedcomprising a casing, aiplurality of discs rotatably adjustablefin the casing around xedA shafts,` said discshaving surfaces' exposed through one endA of the casing, a tool supporting spindle freely rotatable in each disc and;- protruding through said open end of the casing, apinion fixed to each spindle Within said casing, a double gear unit freely rotatable uponeach of said shafts, onev of thegearsfof each unit Imeshing with the pinionon the spindle adjacent saidA unit, a drive gear centrally of Ythe casing and opening through the other end thereof for attachmnt to a drive shaft, said last namedv gear meshing with the other gear of all of said unitsj, whereby all of said spindles are simultaneously rotated in the rotation of said drive "gear, the portions of the casing in which each yof said discs are mou'ntedbeing substantially cylindrical l in form, and means couplingy the split ends ofl each cylindrical portion of the casing for securely` clamping each disc against movement in' different Ypositions of adjustment thereof.

9; A multiple head of the class described comprising an upper inverted cup-shaped casing having a plurality of outer semi-cylindrical portions converging into a central bearing portion, another casing part secured and keyed to the -lower surface of therst named part and comprising" a pluralityof cylinder portions registeringy with the cylindrical portions of the first named casing part, a rotatably adjustable member ttingsnugbers in different positions of adjustment, tool supporting spindles movable with and freely rotatable in each of said members and projecting through the lower vend of the second named casing part, and means comprising a driving gear for simultaneously rotating all of said spindles in the different positions o f adjustment thereof. vl0. A multiple head comprising a casing have ing a central drive member, a plurality of shafts spaced circumferentially around said drive member, discs rotatably adjustable around said shafts p and exposed through one end of the casing,

means on each disc and movable therewith lin the adjustment thereof for supporting tools,

means for placing the last named means of each disc inpperative engagement with the driving member, whereby all of said meansare simul- 2 taneously rotated in the operationof said .mem-

belang theasing retaining .each disc'.J

the axis of said spindles, whereby the setting ofr in the diierent positions of adjustment thereof.

11.v A multiple head of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of independent tool spindle supports in said casing, each support having a iixed axis, each spindle support being capable of complete rotary adjustment about its xed axis, the spindle in said support being oiset With respect to said axis, driving means in said casing, and means placing each spindle in operative engagement With the driving means in the different positions of adjustment of each spindle, whereby all spindles will be simultaneously rotated in the operation of said driving means.

12. A multiple head of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of independent tool spindle supports in said casing, each support having a fixed axis, each spindle support being capable of complete rotary adjustment about its Xed axis, the spindle in said support being offset with respect to said axis, driving means in said casing, means placing each spindle in operative engagement with the driving means in the different positions of adjustment of each spindle, whereby all spindles will be simultaneously rotated in the operation of said driving means, and means retaining each of said supports in different positions of adjustment.

13. In a multiple head of the class described employing a driver, a plurality of members, each member being rotatable about a xed axis, andl a tool supporting spindle rotatable in and movable with each of said members, center locating means at the underside of said head, said means comprising a pin in axial alinement with said driver, the extended axis of said members, and

all of the spindles one with respect to the' other and to; the axis of said driver may be conveniently and accurately calculated in the proper setting of the tool supporting spindles of said head.

14. A multiple head comprising a easing, a driver in said casing, a plurality of spindle supports arranged in said casing circumferentially of said driver, each support having a fixed axis, each of said supports being capable of complete rotary adjustment about its axis, the spindle in each support being .oiset With respect to its axis, means placing the driver in operative engage-v ment with each spindle with different positions of adjustment of said supports, said casing having a socket portion for the reception of said driver, the casing around said socket having threaded apertures at predetermined spaced intervals, and said socket and apertures being standardized with various supporting brackets in coupling and adapting the head to diierent types of machines.

15. In a multiple head of the class described employing a driver arranged centrally thereof, a plurality of discs rotatably supported in said head, said discs being spaced from each other to provide independent and non-coniiiction rotary adjustment thereof in said head, a tool spindie supported adjacent the periphery of each disc whereby in the rotation of said discs the positions of the spindles will be adjusted in said head, and means placing the driverfin operative engagement with all of said spindles to simultaneously operate the same in all positions of rotary adjustment of said discs.

GEORGE W. EMRICK. 

